Exerciser



23, R; B MOBECK l EXERCISER V Filed March 14, 1938 '2 Sheets-Shea#l 1 April 23, 1940.

R. B. Moen-:CK 2,198,058

EXERCISER Filed March 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES EXERCISER Roy B...Mobeck, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 14,

6 Claims.

The present device relates to an exerciser or amusement device and more particularly to an exerciser simulating a mode of conveyance.

It is an ob-ject of the present inventionto pro- Vide an improved and simpliiied mounting for a cycle or other vehicle so that the Vehicle may be actuated in a more or less conventional manner to derive exercise therefrom Without bodily movement of the device as a Whole.

The present invention comprehends the provision of a mounting or supporting means for a cycle or manually actuable vehicle such that the cycle may be actuated to derive the normal exercise incident to cycling While the device remains in a predetermined position. In this connection the invention` more specifically comprehends the provision of a mounting means such as the above which may be used with any conventional cycle regardless of size or formation and which is additionally provided with adjustable means for controlling the energy necessary to actuate the device.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle mounting means for permitting normal actuation of the bicycle in an extremely limited space, which mounting means rigidly supports the cycle in upright and operative position with respect thereto at all times.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a cycle mounting and support as above which is provided with simplifiedmeans to cause the actuation of a front Wheel speedometer, odometer or similar indicating or measuring means in accordance With the conditions prevailing as to speed and distance travelled were the device being actuated as a conveyance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control means actuable for selectively rendering the cycle operable or inoperable in accordance with predetermined actuation of the said control means by the operator.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for automatically determining the period of operation of the device by the user after predetermined use thereof and more specically'-jfor automatically rendering it necessary to actuate additional control means in order to permit further use thereof.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a mounting and control means as above for use in conjunction with a bicycle which comprises a minimumA number of parts occupying a relatively small space and capable of being manufactured with a minimum of difficulty and expense.

1938, Serial No. 195,900

Numerous other objects and advantages will -mcre fully appear during thecourse and progress of the following specication.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation ofthe device taken from the lefthand side of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional elevation taken on the line 3 3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional elevation taken on the line 4 4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 5 5 in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 6 6 in Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a detailed plan section taken on the line I 'l in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional plan view taken V on the line 8 8 in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a detailed sectional elevation taken on the line 9 9 in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a partial elevational View showing an alternative device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The device, shown in Figures 1 to 9 for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, comprises a bicycle Il), a mounting and supporting structure for supporting the bicycle indicated generally by the numeral I2 and a controly device I4 for controlling the operation of the bicycle. The bicycle ID is of a more or less conventional type and style but Various other bicycles or similar devices may be substituted therefor in the structure shown. The supporting or mounting means I2 comprises a pair of longitudinally extending channel-s I6 which are arranged with their open side facing inwardly and are fastened adjacent either end l,by means of the machine screws I8 to transversely extending channel members' 20, as shown clearly in Figure 3.

A pair of supporting rollers or wheels 22 and 24 extend transversely of the longitudinally extending channels IB, being mounted for rotation on the spindle or shaft 26 through the agency of -suitable bearings 28. The shaft 26 in turn is rigidly mounted upon a pair of supporting brackets 30 secured to the chgannel members I5 by means of machine bolts 32 passing through slots or elongated apertures in the channel members. Attention is specifically directed to the fact that these slots permit longitudinal relative adjustment of the wheels or rollers 22 and 2li with respect to their supporting frame so that the device will accommodate vehicles of widely varying wheel base. Accordingly, if it is desired to substitute a bicycle of different Wheel base than the one shown in Figure 1, the machine bolts 32 are loosened and tightened again after the rollers have been adjusted to the proper relative spacing.

Each of the rollers or wheels 22 is provided with annular grooves 36 adjacent its edges in which reside rings 3S. These rings may preferably comprise a resilient or elastic material such as rubber which, once slipped into the grooves, will be constrained in the position shown by their own resiliency. These members determine the effective marginal limits of the supporting rollers and at all times act as a barrier to retain the adjacent wheel upon the operative surfaces thereof. In order to assure the driving of the front wheel of the bicycle in normal relationship with respect to the rear wheel, the two rollers 22 and 24 are connected by the drive belt It@ which engages in a pair of V pulleys d2 rigidly mounted on each of the rollers (see Figure 4). It will be apparent, in accordance with this disclosure, that actuation of the bicycle in the normal manner will, accordingly, not only cause rotation of the rear or driving wheel and the roller 25 in contact therewith, but, through the agency of the pulleys d2 and drive belt d, will rotate the front wheel of the bicycle, thus causing actuation of the speedometer or odometer 1M which has operative connection with the front wheel assembly as at 46, as clearly shown in Figure l. The belt 48 is preferably extensible so as to permit the single belt to serve in spite of variations in separation of the rollers 22, in accordance with the use of bicycles of varying wheel base.

The bicycle shown in the figures is supported by means of four upright channel supports or arms i8 which are bolted to the down-turned end portion 58 of the transverse channel 2i) as at 52. The upper end of these channel arms is formed with longitudinally extending slots 54 of the proper width to accommodate the threaded end portions of the axle of the bicycle. Mounting is accomplished by removing the nuts or fasteners in the end of the axle and rmly re-applying them after the axles have been engaged by the slotted ends of the arms 48, as shown clearly in Figure 1. It has been found that the degree of effort required to actuate the cycle when so mounted can be controlled by vertical adjustment of the cycle in the slots 54. Thus, the nuts on the end of the axle shafts may be tightened against the channels with the axles in any of a plurality of longitudinal positions in the slots 54. Increasing pressure applied between the wheel tread of the bicycle and the adjacent roller by forcing the axle downwardly in the respective slot and maintaining it in this position, in accordance with the present invention, tends to increase the resistance to the operation of the cycle. This provides simple and effective means for determining the degree of exercise to be derived from the machine.

Adjustable spacing of the supporting arms i8 in order to accommodate vehicles of varying wheel base is accomplished by means of the struts 55 which are pivotally attached to the armsas at 58 and have their lower threaded ends passing through the L-shaped lugs 68 which are rigidly fastened to the longitudinally extending channel l5. Adjustment of the pairs of nuts 62 permits selective angular adjustment of the arms 48 about their pivots 52. Similar transverse adjustment is provided for the pairs of oppositely disposed arms 48, as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, and comprises a plurality of bolts or tie-rods 64 engaging in the transverse channel 2B and each supporting arm 48.

When it is desired to position a bicycle on the supporting or mounting frame shown in the iigures, the nuts on either side of the axles, as well as the lock nuts 62, are loosened and the ends of the axles inserted through the slots The bolts or tie-rods 64 are next tightened to bring the opposed supporting arms 48 together and engage the respective axles therebetween. After this, the axle nuts are tightened firmly in the position shown and the nuts 52 brought up against the lug 68 until the supporting anis 'i8 are positioned as shown in Figure 1. Supporting pads or feet 56, preferably of some soft resilient material, are fastened in the transverse channels 20 (see Figure 3) to space the frame with respect. to the oor.

The control device I A is shown more in detail in Figures 5 to 9 inclusive and comprises an upper casing 68 mounted upon the frame of the bi- .cycle near the handle bars (see Figures l and 5) and provided with a coin control device l. The coin control device 18 may comprise any conventional type of mechanism adapted to permit actuation of the device upon the insertion of a coin, for example, and comprises the outer actuating handle 12 which is operatively connected to the roller member 14 supported interiorly of the casing 68. It will be understood, therefore,

that when the handle or control member li', is pressed inwardly after a coin has been properly inserted in the device, the force will be applied directly to the roller 14 to move it to the dotted line position, clearly shown in Figure 5. The roller 'I4 bears against the side of a bell crank 16 pivotally mounted about the transverse shaft 18 and terminating in the transversely extending lug which is connected with the wire cable 82 through the agency of an adjustable eyelet 84. Accordingly, actuation of the actuating handle 1-2 to its full inward position will cause the roller 'i4 to press against the bell crank 'i5 to force it to the dotted line position and, accordingly, tension the cable 82, for releasing the control device by means hereinafter to be described more in detail. A tubular casing encloses the cable 82 as it extends downwardly to the roller casing 88 which is similarly rigidly mounted on the bicycle frame.

The present invention comprehends the provision of means for automatically bringing the cycle to a gradual but firm stop after a predetermined use thereof and to this end there are provided a pair of brake members 98 rigidly secured to the ends of the levers 92 and adapted to oppositely engage the rim of the rearward bicycle wheel, as shown clearly in Figures 6 and 7.

The brake lever arms are pivotally mounted as at 94 to suitable inwardly extending lugs formed on the side of the casing 88 and are connected at their opposite ends with a toggle mechanism comprising links 96 pivotally secured together and to the actuating lug 98 as at |08. A machine bolt |82 extends freely through the downwardly extending arm of the lug 98, as shown in Figure 6, and through an opposed lug I 04 provided on the lever 506. The lever arm |06 is pivoted to the casing 88. as at |98 and bears agissons from the above disclosurethat, when the'cam I'|2 is rotated in the "direction of the: arrow :from

'the position shown inFigure '6,- the roller vk||0 will be forced downwardlyl by the cam surface, and the lever |06 rotatedin a counter-clockwise direction. about its pivot i108, 4thereby drawing the lug 98 ina lefthand'direction, as viewed in Figures 6 and '7, through lthe "agencyoffthe bolt I02, and actuating the to'ggle-fmechariisrn to apply the brakes 90. The br'akes land the-'associated mechanism are normallyfheld 'in operative position, as shownl in the figures, through the agency of the tension springl |4.' "Attention is particularly directed to fthe fact that thebrak; ing mechanism may be readily adjusted at any timeby merely tensioning or loosening the' bolt The cam member is rotated to apply the brakes by means operated from the *main drive mechanism of the bicycle and, in 'this instance,-com prising the shaft |I6 upon' which -the 'bicycle actuating pedals and the drivesprocket ||8 are mounted. The crown wheel |rigidly keyed to the shaft I |6, accordingly, is rotatedwith the sprocket I l8during operation of the machine and drives a pinion I 22 mounted on a shaft |24which is rotatably journalled inthe bosses |26 which are rigid with the casingV 88. The shaft |24 carries a Worm gear |28 which operatively engages a worm wheel |30 mounted on the transverse shaft |32 which is in turn-journalled in the casing 88, as shown in Figure 8. The shaft |32 further carries, forrrotation "therewith, the annularly grooved disk |34 'which has a driving pin |36 radially protruding from-'its peripheral surface. J

The cam I |2-is, on theotliei hand, rotatably mounted on the shaft|32 Aand is connected to the drivendisk |34 through the `agencyl of a tension spring |38 which is secured at one end to the radially extendingA pin |36 and. at its other end to the axially extending 4pin |40 on the side face of the cam I |2 Asecond pin I 42 on the side of the cam /I |2'is parallel with the piny |40 and seats transversely of the pin |36 inthe normal rotational path thereof. 'r

To illustrate the operation of the automatic braking` device, it will be apparent that, as the shaft ||6 isrotated bythe'operator of the' machine, the shaft |32 and, accordingly, the grooved disk |34 is operated at a reduced rotational speed through the agency ofthe gear train represented by the gearsv |20, |22, |28 and |30.v Attention is directed to the fact that the tension of the spring |38 is relatively small'as compared with the tension of the spring '|-|4'-' normally holding the brake mechanism in inoperative position so that the disk |34 may be rotated while the cam yremains in the position shown in Figures 6 and 9. Figure 9 particularly discloses the relative position of the camv and disk |34 after vthe disk has been rotated under the iniiuence vAs the roller ||0 moves up the radially elevated cam surface, the lever |06 is actuated in the manner aforementioned to apply the brakes. It is believed that it will be clear from the above disclosure that the brakes 90 may be applied gently andregularly after apredetermined actu-A ation of .the device since'lthe cam |2 'may' be readily :shaped-to provide' the desired: stopping action;` r f l y The aforementioned means for releasing the braking mechanism in accordance with means on thecoin controlcasing,68,comprises a toggle composed ofthe link |44 pivotally'mounted as at |46 tothe casing 88 andv at its vother end to the'link..|48. .,The link |48 ispivotally mounted at one end upon the shaft ofl the 4roller ||0 land at its other end is provided withv a nger portion |50 attached tothe end-'of the hereinbefore described cable82. y y

Forthe purpose of explainingthe'oper'ation o-f the brake releasing mechanism, it will be assumedthat the brakes are in operative braking position A.and so maintained under the influence of the` cam l| |2 pressing against-the roller ||0 at a radially elevated position on the surface of the camz?! If a. suitable. coin is inserted in thecoin control device and thel actuating rhandle 12 forced Vinwardly to its full extent, the cable 82 Will be tensioned to force the toggle levers|44 and |48 in the lefthand direction, as viewed in Figure 6.: The toggle actiony Willfurther lspring orvrotate the lever. |06 in a downward direction so that-,the roller ||0 will clear the outermost projecting por-tionv of the c'am`|| 2. The can-l, being unconstrained. Will ythusbe dragged, through thetension of the springl38, rotationally about the' shaft |32 and substantially to the position .shown in Figure. ,Upon release of tension` on the cable 82,the rollerfI I0, under the infiuence of the spring ||4, willbepermittecl toreturn Ito its original radial position with respecttothe shaft 32at which time the brakes 90will be withdrawn from contact with the rim of the'wheel, permittingfree operation-thereof for .such a period as is requiredefor the cam to again automatically 'cause application of the brakes.

l of bicycle orvarious other types of cycles or vehiclesand provides means for rigidly positioning the cycle while it is being used. Moreover, the present invention is` more specifically concernedY with an exercising device in which all of the characteristics of operation of the cycle areI retained. so thatthe: conditions of use exactly simulate the exercise derived from the normal physical .actuation of the device on the road. So, too, asimple effectivemeans is provided for de termining the' physical operating effort necessary in .analogy with various road-conditions Whilegone preferred .means has beendisclosed for controlling operation of the device, it will be obvious that various equivalent modications may be made in accordance with the spirit of the invention; for example, in place of cam con- Y trol means, screw control means or various other types of mechanical control elements may be employed.

The control device for the cycle permits smooth ,j

andresilient braking action and assures the availability of a substantially fixed, predetermined amount of use during each operative position even though 'the prior user may have only par-l tially completed his allotted period of actuation. An alternative type of device constructedl in accordance with the present invention is shown .ceV

in Figure 10 and comprehendsathe-provision of a frame'member having` longitudinally extending side channel members lu as above, spaced by suitable transverse members. This type o-f device is particularly adapted toiusers who. desire the experience of balancing a bicycle in the same manner as is necessary when it is actuated in the normal manner on the road.A Accordingly, in this embodiment the vertical supporting arm structure is omitted and there are .provided three transversely extending rollers at l52, |54 vand 15S, the latter two rollers preferably being positioned under the rear wheel of the vehicle, as shown, on either side of the Vertical center-line of the wheel to position the bicycle longitudinally with respect to the mounting frame. A transverse platform l58 is rigidly fastened to the frame and extends to either side thereof to rprovide a pedestal or rest for the operator while mounting or dismounting. f

It is thought that the inventionand numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it'is`obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement ofi the several parts without departing from the rspirit or scope of the invention, o1' sacrificing rany of its attendant advantages, the form hereindescr'ibed being a preferredV embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a device of the class described, afvehicle having a wheel, vehicle drive means operatively connected to the wheel for .driving the-wheel, a brake operatively associated with the wheel, cam means for causing actuation of the brake, cam drive means having operative connection to the rst mentioned drive means and actuated thereby, and a resilient connection between the cam and the cam drive means whereby to permit actuation of the cam after alost motion period.

2. In a device of the class descrbed, a vehicle having a wheel and a drive means operatively connected with the wheel for driving'the wheel, means for resisting rotation of the wheel after a predetermined operation thereof, said last named means comprising a cam drive member operatively' connected with said rst named drive means and driventherefrom, a cam 'follower associated with the cam, brake means actuable in accordance with the respective positioning o f the cam and the cam follower, and resilient connecting means between said cam and the cam drive member to permit delayed operation of the cam.

3. In a device of the class described, a vehicle having a wheel and a drive means Voperatively connected with the wheel for driving the wheel, means for resisting rotation of the Wheel after a vpredetermined operation thereof, said last named means comprising al camy drive member operatively connected'with said iirst named drive means and driven therefrom, a camifollower associated with the cam, brake 'means actuable in accordance with the respective' positioning of the cam and the cam follower, resilient connecting means between said cam and the cam drive member to permit delayed operation of the cam, and means forretracting said follower from the cam to permit resilient resetting thereof after actuation of the brake means.

4. In a device of-'the class'descr'ibed, a bicycle having a wheel and pedal drive means operatively connected with the wheel for driving the wheel, means for resisting rotation of the Wheel after predetermined operation thereof, said last named means comprising a cam, cam followermeans perative for actuating the rotation resisting means, cam drive means associated with the first named drivemeans and operated thereby, a resilient 'lost motion driving connection between the cam and the cam drive means, said resilient means being operable to vmove the cam when the follower is released, and means for shifting the follower to release thel cam for resetting.

5. In an exercising device comprising a cycle, a mounting and supporting means for'the cycle and` having a fixed frame, rotatably mounted cylinders supportingly engaging the wheels of the cycle, brake means for' resisting actuationl of the vehicle, cam control means for said brake, the cam control means .being operated by predetermined actuation of the' cycle, and means selectively operablel for resetting-the cam means in a starting position wherein the brake is-released and the control means set to permit a predetermined period of. operation beforeagain actuating the brake.

6. In a mounting means of the. class described, a frame, `a transversely extending,v rotatably mounted roller on the frame and adapted to contact a wheeled vehicle', an opposed pair of spaced, upstanding supporting and positioning members secured to the frame adjacent `one end thereof and adapted to extend on opposite sides of a vehicle wheel to oppositely engage a vehicle axle therebetween, and means to iixedly adjust the separation of said positioning members to accomodate vehicle axles of varying dimension, said last named means comprising strut members operatively lconnected to each supporting member and tothe frame and being adapted to xedly control an` angular relationship of each positioning member with respect to the frame, said strut members being selectivelyadjustable in' length for varying said angular relationship whereby to vary the lateral position of portions of the supporting members.

, ROY B. MOBECK. 

